Who
Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
Rating:
PG
Runtime:
104 minutes
Box
Office (in today’s dollars): 308 million (approximately)
Characters:
Eddie Valiant, Roger Rabbit, Jessica Rabbit, Judge Doom, Dolores, Marvin Acme,
R.K. Maroon, Lieutenant Santino, Teddy Valiant, Baby Herman, Benny the Cab, The
Weasels, Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Betty Boop
Cool
Stuff: Jessica Rabbit’s Ink & Paint Club dress
Cool
Music: “Why Don’t You Do Right?”
Cool
Quote: “I’m not bad. I’m just drawn that way.”
Fantastic
human characters and loveable cartoon characters in a film noir setting with a
jazz music score ... it’s perfect! Eddie Valiant is, well, fantastic as a
broken-down private detective that loves himself a stiff drink and misses his
brother Teddy. And I guess that makes Roger Rabbit the lovable cartoon star
that does not (he does) like the juice and loves his wife Jessica Rabbit. Judge
Doom is super scary and Dolores is super funny and there for Eddie when he
needs her. Sprinkle in Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, and all of their friends and
you have a hard time not laughing yourself to death. Side note: Betty Boop
plays a waitress at the Ink & Paint Club.... Salty likey!
Speaking
of the Ink & Paint Club, the coolest thing from the movie is the dress that
Jessica Rabbit wears while performing on stage. It’s all shiny and sparkly and
beautifully inked and painted ... if you know what I mean. While wearing that
dress, Jessica Rabbit sings the cool song “Why Don’t You Do Right?” Hearing her
sing is what Marvin Acme came for, and it results in Eddie Valiant getting his
tie straightened. To finish this paragraph three for three, Jessica Rabbit has
the coolest quote “I’m not bad. I’m just drawn that way.” Eddie Valiant would
agree.
I
am not sure why, but I have always found Dolores’s line, “Would have been here
right after you called, but I had to shake the weasels,” hilarious. I know I am
not alone in being absolutely heartbroken after seeing the shoe in the Dip
scene.... I may have cried. And I learned three important lessons from the
movie: scotch on the rocks doesn’t always mean ice, no toon can resist
Shave-and-a-Haircut, and nose don’t rhyme with walls. This movie was such a
success, it’s hard to imagine the live-action/animated formula failing four
years later in Cool World.
Next
movie to review: Die Hard
Oh man, I was wondering if you were going to drop a Cool World comparison in there. WFRR remains one of my all time favorite movies. I was absolutely shocked to find out Eddie Valiant is actually British! But if you told me that there was a perfect mashup of two of my favorite genres of kiddie cartoons and film noir, I'd think you were crazy. But there is, and it's incredible. I can't wait until my nephew is old enough to watch this with me!
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